The Real, Short List of Passport-Only Credit Cards
Only Zolve and Firstcard currently confirm on their own pages that a passport, without an SSN or an ITIN, is enough to apply. American Express has a real passport-based path too, but it's restricted to people who already hold an Amex card and are relocating to the U.S. — not new applicants. Nearly everything else marketed as 'no-SSN friendly' still requires an ITIN, which is its own separate, multi-week application.
Last updated 2026-07-22"No SSN" and "passport-only" are not the same claim
Most of the no-SSN cards you'll find searching around still require an ITIN once you dig into their actual application requirements — an ITIN is not a passport substitute, it's a separate IRS number that itself takes weeks to obtain. This matrix only counts a row as a genuine match if neither an SSN nor an ITIN is required at any point.
See the full matrix →Why the ITIN distinction matters so much here
An ITIN application (IRS Form W-7) typically takes 7-11 weeks and requires its own paperwork — it isn't something you can get same-day like a bank account. A card that says 'no SSN required' but still needs an ITIN hasn't actually solved the new-arrival's timing problem; it's swapped one wait for another. That's why this list is much shorter than any general 'newcomer-friendly' or 'ITIN-accepted' roundup: it only counts issuers where a passport alone, without either number, gets you through the application.
The Amex product people misread
American Express does have a real passport-based path, called Global Card Transfer — but it's specifically for people who already hold an Amex card for at least 3 months in good standing and are moving to the U.S. from abroad. It is not a way for someone with no prior Amex relationship to get a first card using just a passport. If you don't already have an Amex account, this pathway isn't available to you, regardless of what a passport-only headline elsewhere might imply.
The Nomad/Cross River caveat
Nomad Credit's own page says its international-student card needs neither an SSN nor an ITIN — but Nomad is the application and marketing front-end, not the bank that actually issues the card (Cross River Bank / NeuMoney). No independent statement from the issuing bank was found confirming the same policy. That doesn't mean the claim is false — it means it hasn't been independently confirmed by the party that actually has to honor it, which is worth knowing before you apply.
Step-by-step
Zolve and Firstcard are the two clearest confirmed matches. Check the matrix for each one's current specific document list before applying.
Amex's Global Card Transfer is a real, confirmed option — call or apply online with your existing account number, and expect the process to take about 7-10 business days.
Check the International Student Document Acceptance matrix as well — it covers the same issuers with the specific I-20 vs. DS-2019 distinction that matters for your visa type.
Your options widen considerably — Chase, Capital One, Citi, and Wells Fargo all publicly accept an ITIN, even though none of them accept a passport alone.
Every verdict above is sourced to an issuer's own page, or clearly labeled as unconfirmed where only a marketing partner made the claim — including a live check that clarified exactly who Amex's passport pathway is actually open to.
No-SSN / Passport-Only Application Matrix →Frequently asked questions
Will I still need to prove my income or address?
Yes — passport-only refers specifically to the SSN/ITIN requirement, not to the rest of a normal application. Expect to still provide proof of U.S. address, income or enrollment, and standard identity verification.
Should I apply for an ITIN anyway, even if I find a passport-only card?
Often yes, longer-term — an ITIN or SSN opens up mainstream cards with better terms than most passport-only fintech options offer. A passport-only card can be a useful bridge while that separate process is underway, not necessarily a permanent choice.